Steve Parish has revealed he gave Sam Allardyce a glowing ­reference to help him land the ­Everton job.

The Crystal Palace chairman does not begrudge Allardyce returning to the Premier League six months after ­quitting Selhurst Park and hinting that keeping the Eagles up would be his last job in football.

Parish proved that by ­supporting Allardyce’s ­application to take charge at the Toffees.

He said: “I was asked by Everton what I thought and I said he was a brilliant ­manager to work with. ­Delegating, gets a good team around him, works well with them.”

(Image: Action Images via Reuters)

Referring to Everton’s win over West Ham, watched by Allardyce who was confirmed as manager the following day, Parish added: “He has the luck of the devil. He sits in the stand and they win 4-0 from being abject, so bring me a lucky general.

“I love this football club but I’m not deluded. Everton is a massive, massive club and from where he was at England with his reputation somewhat ­tarnished, unfairly in my view, I’m proud I was part of picking him up. I enjoyed working with him. He was 100 per cent honest with us, I don’t ­begrudge him.

Allardyce kept the Eagles up... (Image: Getty)

... and Parish gave him a glowing reference (Image: 2017 Getty Images)

“I like the people at Everton and wish him every success. I wish they weren’t trying to nick our goalkeeping coach – but other than that, I like them.”

Parish was speaking after Palace ­unveiled plans to increase ­Selhurst Park’s capacity by 8,000 to 34,000 in a £100million project which should be finished in 2020.

They are third bottom but ­Parish said: “You can’t stop doing ­everything on Monday because you’re in the relegation zone. We’ve a plan for every eventuality. For the club’s long-term future, it’s essential we ­improve this facility. We need to do it.”

Video Loading

Video Unavailable

Click to playTap to play

The video will start in 8Cancel

Play now

It will have no impact on the funds available to boss Roy Hodgson – ­bolstered by £2m ­compensation from Everton – with Palace eyeing up to four signings next month.

Parish said: “We’re already spending more on the transfer budget than we generate. That is ring-fenced.

“You’ve pretty much got to spend everything on the playing side or run an even bigger risk of relegation.”